Spring Cleaning for Your Water Heater: A Maintenance Guide




Your water heater needs regular maintenance to ensure it’s running safely and as efficiently as possible. Spring is a great time to schedule water heater maintenance with your plumbing professional.

Don’t have a plumbing professional? Search here to find a Bradford White professional in your area.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to the “Spring Cleaning Water Heater Maintenance” your plumbing professional might perform:

  1. Gas or Electric? There are some specific maintenance protocols required for gas or electric tank water heaters.For gas water heaters, your plumbing professional will check the operation of your pilot light (or electronic ignition on more modern models) and make sure there are no gas leaks. Gas water heaters vent to the outside of your home, so your pro will make sure the water heater is venting properly.Bradford White gas water heaters include the Defender Safety System®, which helps keep your family safe by preventing the ignition of flammable vapors outside of the water heater. This system will be checked as well to make sure it’s operating properly. Learn more about gas water heaters here.For electric water heaters, the electrical connections will be checked to make sure there aren’t any issues or loose wires. Learn more about electric water heaters here.
  2. Test the Pressure Relief Valve. In the unlikely event that excessive pressure builds up in your tank, the pressure relief valve will open to relieve that pressure. Your plumbing professional will likely test that valve to make sure it’s operating properly to keep you and your family safe.
  3. Flush the Tank. One of the biggest threats to any water heater is sediment. This can be a more serious problem if you have so-called “hard water” – water containing high levels of dissolved minerals. Sediment buildup can reduce your water heater’s efficiency and shorten its lifespan. So as part of your regular water heater maintenance, your pro may drain and flush the tank to remove any sediment. Bradford White water heaters have their exclusive Hydrojet® Total Performance System, which uses a unique system of jet ports to reduce sediment buildup in your tank to prolong its life and maximize performance and efficiency.
  4. Inspect the Anode Rod. The anode rod is your water heater’s first line of defense against corrosion. Made from metal that attracts corrosive elements, it sacrifices itself to protect your tank. Your pro will inspect the rod and replace it if necessary so that your tank will continue to be protected.
  5. Check for Leaks: Your pro will inspect all connections and fittings for any signs of leaks and tighten any loose connections.

Additional Tips:

  • Schedule annual water heater maintenance: Your pro will likely recommend that you schedule maintenance once a year to keep your water heater working perfectly. (Maybe schedule routine water heater maintenance every spring!)
  • Temperature setting: Your pro will check that your water heater temperature is set properly to prevent scalding and save energy. For safety, this is particularly a concern if you have young children in your home.

Got Tankless?

If you have a tankless water heater, you’re probably already aware you have some special maintenance considerations. Your plumbing professional will likely perform the following maintenance tasks on your tankless water heater:

  • Clean the water inlet filter: Your plumber will rinse the filter with clean water to prevent clogs and problems down the road.
  • Flush and descale the system: Scale can accumulate in your tankless water heater which can reduce performance and efficiency. Your pro will likely circulate a cleaning solution to remove mineral deposits from the heat exchanger. Bradford White uses Scale Reduction Technology™ (SRT) and other exclusive features to resist scale buildup on Infiniti® K and L Tankless Water Heaters.
  • Clean the air filter (gas units): Your pro will check and remove any accumulated dust and debris from the air intake filter.
  • Check condensate trap: Your plumbing pro will clean the condensate trap to prevent any clogs or issues.

Is your water heater more than 10 years old? If so, it might make sense to purchase a new water heater rather than spend money on maintenance for the old one. Because the new water heater will likely be much more efficient than your old water heater, you’ll probably save money every month with lower energy bills. Learn more about the Bradford White Water Heaters that are available for your home.

Got questions about maintenance or buying a new water heater? Our Bradford White Products Team can help. We can help you find a qualified plumbing professional near you who will perform all maintenance safely and effectively. You can also email the Bradford White Products Team at products@bradfordwhite.com with any specific questions about choosing the right water heater for your home.

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